Monday-the temple

Mark indicates in 11:12 that the next day, after the triumphal entry, Jesus headed to Jerusalem. Our text for today is Mark 11:15-19. “On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a ‘den of robbers,'” The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at this teaching. When evening came, they went out of the city.”

This was a very intense Monday! Jesus was righteously angry that people were taking advantage of others as they came to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices. They had to buy animals for their offerings and the money changers were being dishonest in their dealings. It would also seem that the area was being used as a short cut when bringing animals to the center of the city. Jesus’ anger is over the misuse of the temple, His house and the dwelling place of Holy God, for unscrupulous practices. Because He took action and disrupted these exchanges, the chief priests decided He needed to be done away with or killed. They did fear the crowd so they knew they would have to use unscrupulous practices in dealing with Jesus too.

Why did these ‘religious leaders’ allow these practices to occur when they knew the purpose of God’s house was for worshipping God? I could also ask, why do Christians stand by and watch godly principles and laws be overturned and ridiculed? Being human we can be made to feel powerless against opposition and perhaps we thought the problems would go away and reason would return, or we have been apathetic towards opposition and did not realized the danger until it was to late. What ever the reasons for our not standing against evil, scripture tells us in Ephesian 6:13how God expects us to act in the face of evil and opposition.“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” God desires that we be like Jesus. We are to stand against evil and do what we can in His power to overturn, disrupt or eliminate evil when it comes into our lives. God wants us focused on Him. He will deal with evil, just as His Son dealt with the moneychangers, so that focus can be returned to Almighty God and His worship.

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One thought on “Monday-the temple”

Wouldn’t you have loved to have seen this?! Sometimes it’s easy to cheer other believers on than to be personally involved. I prefer to jump in without thinking. Maybe a quick prayer, then jump in. I’ve done this numerous times, usually to a good outcome. Our God is an awesome God, He reigns, with wisdom power and love our God is an awesome God. It’s inspiring what He can do even through us! I’m cheering you on, Linda. XOXOXOXO Sue

P. S. I love seeing your pictures of the Holy Land. I would love to walk the walk Jesus walked into Jerusalem. I guess it was all hill and pebbles, rock and dirt at the time. That can be tough in sandals. Jesus didn’t expect to walk an easy life.